CGN-42 class
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The CGN-42 class was a class of planned but never materialized guided missile cruiser for the United States Navy . The Virginia-class based ships should combine the advantages of the Aegis combat system with the range of a nuclear cruiser . However, due to the likely high unit costs, the Navy decided to purchase the conventionally powered cruisers of the Ticonderoga class .
history
Planning for the ship class began in the early 1970s when the US Navy recognized the possibilities of the newly developed Aegis combat system. Starting in 1974, the navy investigated two concepts for accommodating the system on nuclear-powered ships: the "Strike Cruiser, Nuclear Powered" concept, which includes a class of cruisers with around 17,000 tn.l. Displacement and extensive armament to defend against aircraft, missiles and ships, as well as a modification of the Virginia class, of which four ships had previously been approved.
Initial plans envisaged the construction of 20 ships of the class between 1986 and 1995, which would have made it possible to form six purely nuclear-powered two- aircraft carrier combat groups. In 1974, substantial funds were approved for the 1975 financial year for the construction of further nuclear cruisers, including the construction of four ships of the new CGN-42 class. On February 13, 1976, however , President Jimmy Carter cut all funds for the construction of further nuclear cruisers, including the CGN-42 class. In 1978 the Senate approved another 180 million US dollars for further constructions, but approval for the construction of the ships, which cost between 1.3 and 1.5 billion US dollars, was not granted in 1981. In 1983 the entire program was finally discontinued, instead the construction of the conventionally powered and more cost-effective Ticonderoga class was pushed.
technology
The ships, which should have the same dimensions as the Virginia-class cruisers, should have the Aegis system with four area radar antennas on the superstructure. They were to be equipped with a towing sonar for underwater location , and two LAMPS III helicopters were provided in a fixed hangar to combat enemy submarines . The anti-aircraft armament consisting of 122 standard missiles and cruise missiles for attacks on land targets should be housed in a vertical launching system .
literature
- Wilhelm M. Donko: The nuclear cruisers of the US Navy . Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Koblenz 1987, ISBN 3-7637-5836-4
Web links
- CGN-42 class at globalsecurity.org
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b globalsecurity.org , as of December 1, 2007
- ↑ Terzibaschitsch: US Navy cruiser . Bechtermünz Verlag, Augsburg 1997. ISBN 3-7822-0348-8 . P. 14